A second contribution on March 13, 2006, also from Burris & Lebed Consulting, Inc., in the amount of $1,500.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported Burris and his companies have donated $15,296 toBlagojevich since 2002.

State records show that Burris & Lebed Consulting, a government-relations, media, and political consultancy firm, was placed on an special 2005 list of 19 Illinois companies to be favored by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) due to minority ownership. Burris’ firm was awarded an IDOT contract valued at $300,000 to recruit firms for construction work, beginning Jan. 1, 2005.

Apparently the crazy rules in Washington require proper documentation be sent to the Secretary of the Senate in order for Burris to be seated.

It is becoming increasingly clear by the minute that Harry Reid, Barack Obama and many Senate Democrats will do everything they can to keep their Senatorial Secret Society free of Blago's taint.

However, it still remains unclear how they actually plan on blocking the appointment. Blago, for better or worse, remains the Governor of Illinois. He has yet to be impeached, indicted or incarcerated and as such, he still has the power to appoint Burris.

It is also surprising that Burris wants to be part of a group that really does not want him to be there. Maybe it's because he has a history of being a political loser and now finally has his chance.

If Obama hadn't run for President, none of this would ever have happened...

The Washington Times reported yesterday that several GOP Leaders have drafted a resolution blasting President Bush for supporting financial bailouts.

"We can't be a party of small government, free markets and low taxes while supporting bailouts and nationalizing industries, which lead to big government, socialism and high taxes at the expense of individual liberty and freedoms," said Solomon Yue, an Oregon member and co-sponsor of a resolution that criticizes the U.S. government bailouts of the financial and auto industries. Republican National Committee Vice Chairman James Bopp Jr. wrote the resolution and asked the rest of the 168 voting members to sign it.

"The resolution also opposes President-elect Obama's proposed public works program and supports conservative alternatives," while encouraging the RNC "to engage in vigorous public policy debates consistent with our party platform," said Mr. Bopp, a leading attorney for pro-life groups who has also challenged the campaign finance legislation that Mr. Bush signed.

Politico also covered the story, citing members of Congress who voted for the initial TARP money who are opposed to using the funds approved for financial and credit companies being used to bailout the auto industry.

The main problem here is that no one is watching what Sec. Paulson and the Treasury Department is actually doing with these funds. Everyone in Washington shares this blame, including the President and Congress. It is unclear why this oversight was never factored into the original legislation but it's no surprise that yet again, the Federal Government has no problem randomly throwing away the People's Money.

Hopefully, Obama and his team have a better plan moving forward with the other half of the TARP money; a plan that doesn't involve a public works package or more socialism.

“Roland Burris is a good man and a fine public servant, but the Senate Democrats made it clear weeks ago they cannot accept an appointment made by a governor who is accused of selling this very Senate seat.”

Article I Section 5 of the U.S. Constitution says: "Each House may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds, expel a member."

That means the Senate can vote not to seat former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris, argues Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

Asked to explain how the Senate could expel an appointed senator who qualifies to sit in the chamber, Reid's office issued a statement Tuesday saying the judgment will be based on whether Blagojevich is qualified, not Burris.

"We are not making a judgment about qualifications of (the) appointee, but about whether (the) appointment itself is tainted by fraud. ... This is like judging the integrity of an election, free from fraud or corruption. It's the process that led to the appointment, not the appointee's fitness," Reid's office said in the statement.

Can someone please tell me what's going on? And why do Liberals like Alan Colmes continue to espouse the "innocent until proven guilty" argument!? Trying to claim that so long as Blago is technically governor he can continue to act as governor and appoint Obama's replacement.

Let's also keep in mind Rep. Bobby Rush adding the race card to the mess for no apparent reason during yesterday's press conference.

"I would ask you the not hang or lynch the appointee as you castigate the appointer and separate the appointee from the appointer," said Rush. "Roland Burris is worthy and he is the only one who can stand in the gap during this time and gather the confidence, re-establishing confidence of the people of the state of Illinois."

Rush then challenged Senate to not seat Burris. "There are no African-Americans in the Senate, and I don't think that anyone, any U.S. Senator who is sitting right now would want to go on record to deny one African-American from being seated in the U.S. Senate. I don't think they want to go on record doing that."Rush promised to take his case to the Congressional Black Caucus, and he said he intended to lobby Senators as well -- including his Illinois colleague, Dick Durbin. "Let me remind you that the state of Illinois and the people of the state of Illinois in their collective wisdom have sent two African-Americans to the U.S. Senate," Rush said. "That makes a difference. This is not just a state of Illinois matter ... but indeed, by this decision, it has tremendous national importance."

But it was Rush who said in early December:

"I believe that the acts that are alleged to have been committed by the Governor are so heinous that he has forfeited his right to appoint someone to fill the seat of President-Elect Barack Obama. My bottom line is that the Governor should not be the one to make the appointment to this important office."

Blago simply does not care about the people of Illinios or America and he is still connected to Obama and Rahm. Just saying. What a mess.

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Washington lobbyist Vicki Iseman sued the New York Times for $27 million today. In a story the paper ran earlier this year, Iseman was linked romantically with presidential candidate John McCain in 1999.

The text of the suit is here (thank you Michael Calderone). Iseman's defamatory complaint has two bullet points--that the Times story communicated that she had exploited a relationship with McCain "to obtain favorable legislative outcomes for her clients"--a violation of professional and ethical norms. The second point is the paper's portrayal of the nature of her relationship with McCain (as "illicit and inappropriate") while she conducted business for clients before the committee chaired by McCain.

The Times says: "We fully stand behind the article. We continue to believe it to be true and accurate, and that we will prevail. As we said at the time, it was an important piece that raised questions about a presidential contender and the perception that he had been engaged in conflicts of interest."

Calderone reports Iseman's "said to have suffered mentally, emotionally, and in her health." He also notes that reporters at the Times "worked on the controversial lobbyist piece for months, and it was held up several times in the editorial process."

What goes around comes around! Karma strikes the NY Slimes! Hopefully this can be the start of some legitimate accountability for the Liberal Media Bias.

WASHINGTON---I've learned that Gov. Blagojevich is poised to name former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris to replace President elect Barack Obama in the Senate on Tuesday afternoon. The embattled Blagojevich is fighting impeachment charges in the Illinois House for, among other reasons, trying to auction off the Senate seat held by President elect Barack Obama. Blagojevich called a press conference for 2 p.m. Chicago time at the Thompson State of Illinois Center.

Burris was the first African American to win statewide office in Illinois when he was elected comptroller, serving from 1983 to 1991. He served as Illinois Attorney General from 1991 to 1995. Burris previously ran and lost bids for the U.S. senate and governor. Senate Leader Harry Reid (D-Nv.) had said he would ask the Senate not to seat any Blagojevich appointee, in order to make sure the seat is free of taint.

Burris has a long political history in Illinois, mostly on the losing side of elections. (Lost to Paul Simon in 1984 Senate race, lost 1994 run for Governor, lost in 1995 bid for Mayor of Chicago, was yet again unsuccessful to get Democratic nomination in the 2002 Governor race, where he lost to, that's right, Blago!)

So a corrupt Governor who is currently facing impeachment hearings nominates a lifetime loser.

Monday, December 29, 2008

CHICAGO (AP) - U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald wants lawmakers to hear what Gov. Rod Blagojevich said on wiretapped phone calls. Fitzgerald filed paperwork Monday to release conversations caught on wiretaps to the Illinois House panel considering impeachment proceedings. Federal prosecutors have asked a judge for permission to disclose a limited number of the intercepted conversations in a redacted form.

Fitzgerald says disclosing four calls wouldn't interfere with the ongoing criminal investigation. Blagojevich was arrested Dec. 9 on federal corruption charges. The governor is accused of trying to sell President-elect Barack Obama's vacant U.S. Senate seat to the highest bidder, but he has denied any wrongdoing.

We can't wait to hear this stuff! And Rahm officially resigned today to Blagojevich. Insert your own "had no contact" joke here!

Using financial markets rescue funds, Treasury will purchase $5 billion in senior preferred equity from GMACLLC, and up to $1 billion more will be lent to GM itself so the automaker can participate in a rights offering at GMAC, which has wanted to reorganize itself as a bank holding company.

GMAC won approval from the Federal Reserve last week to become a bank holding company, but that was contingent on the auto and home loan provider raising at least $30 billion in capital. Treasury’s announcement would appear to move GMAC closer to that goal, and a GM spokeswoman was optimistic Monday night.

Sunday, December 28, 2008

"I'm really coming into this as somebody who isn't, you know, part of the system, who obviously, you know, stands for the values of, you know, the Democratic Party," Kennedy told the Daily News Saturday during a wide-ranging interview.

"I know how important it is to, you know, to be my own person. And, you know, and that would be obviously true with my relationship with the mayor."

"You know, I think, you know, we're sort of, uh, sharing some of this experience. And um, as I've said, he was a friend, a family member, and um so, and uh obviously, he's, you know, he's also had an impressive career in public office."

"It's really, you know, it's not about just the Kennedy name," she said. "It's about my own work and what I've done with those values."

Like, OMG! Sweet Caroline would, you know, make like a great Senator, you know!?

As we have been saying all along, President George Bush will be remembered kindly in the history books for protecting the American people, aiding Middle East peace and helping the citizens of the world at large.

The two most influential women in President George W. Bush's White House — first lady Laura Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice — are strongly defending the president's legacy against critics who are calling his administration one of the worst in history.

"I know it's not, and so I don't really feel like I need to respond to people that view it that way," Mrs. Bush said in an interview that aired Sunday. "I think history will judge and we'll see later."

Rice took a similar view in a separate interview, saying that claims that the Bush administration has been one of the worst ever are "ridiculous."

"I think generations pretty soon are going to start to thank this president for what he's done. This generation will," Rice said. "Because I think the fact that wehave really made foreign assistance not just an issue of giving humanitarian aid or giving money to poor people, but really insisting on good governance and fighting corruption," she said. "I think the fact that this president has laid the groundwork for a Palestinian state, being the first president, as a matter of policy, to say that there should be one, and now, I think, laying the foundation that's going to lead to that Palestinian state — I can go on and on."

In her interview, Mrs. Bush called the shoe-throwing incident in Baghdad an "assault." She rebuffed Bush administration critics who contend the U.S. turned its military might and resources to the war in Iraq before finishing the job in Afghanistan.

Mrs. Bush noted that under her husband's watch, the U.S. toppled Saddam Hussein and liberated millions of people in Afghanistan and Iraq from oppressive governments. She also highlighted the president's work to provide treatment for disease like AIDS and malaria to millions of people in sub-Saharan Africa. She said her husband responded to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in a way that has kept the nation safe.

"I think that's very, very important," she said. Mrs. Bush said that while the president laughed it off when an Iraqi reporter threw his shoes at him during a news conference earlier this month in Iraq, she was not amused. The president deftly dodged the shoes and wasn't hit. He continued the news conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nourial-Maliki after security officials dragged the journalist from the room.

"The president laughed it off," she said. "He wasn't hurt. He's very quick. As youknow, he's a natural athlete and ducked it. But on the other hand, it is an assault. And I think it should be treated that way. And I think people should think of it that way."

On the other hand, she said the incident reflects change in Iraq. "As bad as the incident is, in my view, it is a sign that Iraqis feel a lot freer to express themselves," she said.

Mrs. Bush challenged critics who contend that Iraq was a distraction the U.S. mission in Afghanistan where heightened violence is causing renewed instability. "Well, I don't know that I would agree with that at all," Mrs. Bush said. "I don't think that's true at all. We've stayed very, very invested in Afghanistan. Not as invested militarily, maybe, and maybe that's what the critics say, that it should have been more military. But I think we stayed very invested."

Rice said it won't be long before Bush's contributions to the world will be acknowledged.

"When you look at what this president took on in terms of AIDS relief and foreign assistance to the world, when you look at the number of countries ... and the number of people that this president has actually liberated — you know, I really am someone who believes that you don't want to pay too much attention to today's headlines," she said.

But recognition of big achievements sometimes take a long time, Rice said. Rice noted that while Germany was reunified in 1990, the work that made it possible was done in the 1940s, "when things didn't look quite so rosy." So historians who are now making judgments about the Bush administration and its Middle East policies aren't very good historians, Rice said.

"One cannot yet judge the effects of decisions that this president has taken on what the Middle East will become," Rice said. "I mean, for goodness' sakes, good historians are still writing books about George Washington."

The CIA is reportedly using the "male-enhancement" pill, Viagra, to bribe Afghan warlords and tribal leaders. In lieu of money and other methods, CIA operatives are obtaining information valuable to fighting al-qaida and Taliban from distributing the pharmaceutical.

Who knew? The CIA and the US Military have been hunting down Osama bin Laden and other Taliban and Terrorists for 8 years and we're just now getting intelligence from dirty, old Afghan men?

As Obama entered the room, it was absent of the regular fanfare of cheering and clapping. The diners were polite, staying seated at their respective tables and waited for the president-elect to come to them to stand up.

Maybe it's because he never supported them and told Katie Couricthat he still believes the troop surge in Iraq was the wrong idea.

President-Elect Obama once said border security has nothing to do with Homeland Security, Town Hall's Hugh Hewitt reported in 2007.

Harry Reid certainly didn’t want to have this measure voted on, because he didn’t want to look foolish and have the Republican parts of the immigration bill passed around him on an end run, so he asked the chair for a ruling that the Graham amendment be stricken because it wasn’t germane to the original bill.

That’s right, the Democratic leader of the Senate wanted a ruling that border security funding has nothing to do with homeland security funding. All eyes turned to the chair, currently occupied by Barack Obama. Here is what he had to say.

HR: We have to have a ruling here first.BO: The chair is not aware of an arguably legislative provision in the House bill, HR 2638 [the homeland security funding bill], to which Amendment number 2412 offered by the Senator from South Carolina [the border security funding amendment] could conceivably be germane.Judd Gregg: So the amendment is germane?BO: No, that the chair does not believe that the defense of germaneness is appropriately placed at this time.

So there you have it. Senator Barack Obama, the man who is trying to win your vote to be the president of the United States, the commander-in-chief, the man whose primary mission is to protect and defend the country, can’t see how border security has anything to do with homeland security. Unbelievable, but true.

The terrorism threat to the United States over the next five years will be driven by instability in the Middle East and Africa, persistent challenges to border security and increasing Internet savvy, says a new intelligence assessment obtained by The Associated Press.

Terrorists will continue to try to evade U.S. border security measures and place operatives inside the mainland to carry out attacks, the 38-page assessment said. It also said that they may pose as refugees or asylum seekers or try to exploit foreign travel channels such as the visa waiver program, which allows citizens of 34 countries to enter the U.S. without visas.

Long waits for immigration and more restrictive European refugee and asylum programs will cause more foreigners to try to enter the U.S. illegally. Increasing numbers of Iraqis are expected to migrate to the U.S. in the next five years; and refugees from Somalia and Sudan could increase because of conflicts in those countries, the assessment said.

Because there is a proposed cap of 12,000 refugees from Africa, officials expect more will try to enter the U.S. illegally as well. Officials predict the same scenario for refugees from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Intelligence officials predict the pool of radical Islamists within the U.S. will increase over the next five years due partly to the ease of online recruiting means. Officials foresee "a wave of young, self identified Muslim 'terrorist wannabes' who aspire to carry out violent acts.

"Upon the anniversary of the birth of Jesus, Son of Mary, the Word of God, the Messenger of mercy, I would like to congratulate the followers of Abrahamic faiths, especially the followers of Jesus Christ, and the people of Britain.

"The Almighty created the universe for human beings and human beings for Himself.

"He created every human being with the ability to reach the heights of perfection. He called on man to make every effort to live a good life in this world and to work to achieve his everlasting life.

"On this difficult and challenging journey of man from dust to the divine, He did not leave humanity to its own devices. He chose from those He created the most excellent as His Prophets to guide humanity.

"All Prophets called for the worship of God, for love and brotherhood, for the establishment of justice and for love in human society. Jesus, the Son of Mary, is the standard-bearer of justice, of love for our fellow human beings, of the fight against tyranny, discrimination and injustice.

"All the problems that have bedevilled humanity throughout the ages came about because humanity followed an evil path and disregarded the message of the Prophets.

"Now as human society faces a myriad of problems and a succession of complex crises, the root causes can be found in humanity's rejection of that message, in particular the indifference of some governments and powers towards the teachings of the divine Prophets, especially those of Jesus Christ.

"The crises in society, the family, morality, politics, security and the economy which have made life hard for humanity and continue to put great pressure on all nations have come about because the Prophets have been forgotten, the Almighty has been forgotten and some leaders are estranged from God.

"If Christ were on earth today, undoubtedly He would stand with the people in opposition to bullying, ill-tempered and expansionist powers.

"If Christ were on earth today, undoubtedly He would hoist the banner of justice and love for humanity to oppose warmongers, occupiers, terrorists and bullies the world over.

"If Christ were on earth today, undoubtedly He would fight against the tyrannical policies of prevailing global economic and political systems, as He did in His lifetime.

"The solution to today's problems is a return to the call of the divine Prophets. The solution to these crises is to follow the Prophets - they were sent by the Almighty for the good of humanity.

"Today, the general will of nations is calling for fundamental change. This is now taking place. Demands for change, demands for transformation, demands for a return to human values are fast becoming the foremost demands of the nations of the world.

"The response to these demands must be real and true. The prerequisite to this change is a change in goals, intentions and directions. If tyrannical goals are repackaged in an attractive and deceptive package and imposed on nations again, the people, awakened, will stand up against them.

"Fortunately, today, as crises and despair multiply, a wave of hope is gathering momentum. Hope for a brighter future and hope for the establishment of justice, hope for real peace, hope for finding virtuous and pious rulers who love the people and want to serve them – and this is what the Almighty has promised.

"We believe Jesus Christ will return, together with one of the children of the revered Messenger of Islam and will lead the world to love, brotherhood and justice.

"The responsibility of all followers of Christ and Abrahamic faiths is to prepare the way for the fulfilment of this divine promise and the arrival of that joyful, shining and wonderful age.

"I hope that the collective will of nations will unite in the not too distant future andwith the grace of the Almighty Lord, that shining age will come to rule the earth.

"Once again, I congratulate one and all on the anniversary of the birth of Jesus Christ. I pray for the New Year to be a year of happiness, prosperity, peace and brotherhood for humanity. I wish you every success and happiness."

The world is a scary place! We pray for Obama to make the right decisions. We can only hope he does nothing to legitimize Ahmadinejad or terrorists.

In an interview with Chicago TV station WLS-TV, Blago the Barbarian states that if he did anything that would be considered an impeachable offense, then he must be living on the "wrong planet" and in the "wrong place."

Blago continues to defy US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald and everyone from the Illinois State House to The White House.

And all this as Blago's attorney Ed Genson has asked the Illinois Congress' impeachment committee to subpoena the likes of Rahm Emanuel, Valerie Jarret and Jesse Jackson, Jr -- all mentioned in the Federal Complaint against Blago.

The Governor added it "was all about trying to end up with the right decision that could do the most things for the people of Illinois."

Corruption, bribery, pay-to-play -- sounds like a lot of Illinois people were to benefit from Blago's actions, specifically him and his wife and his close aides.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Liberal environmentalism opened a new chapter this week in Seattle. Unusually inclement weather brought a big snow storm to parts of Washington State. The Liberal Seattle public works team refuses to use salt to clean its roads, relying instead on "snow packed" roads.

What does this mean? People slip and slide all over the place. Instead of properly removing the snow via normal means, Seattle prefers to let its citizens risk injury and damage to themselves and their cars

Tuesday is Rahm day. The Obama Transition Team's internal audit will be released tomorrow.

Reports are indicating that Rahm will be cleared of any wrongdoing, but that he did speak at least once to Blago and on several occasions to Blago's Chief of Staff. But what did Rahm discuss with respect to his own Congressional seat?

The whole thing still stinks of dirty Chicago politics. Obama will not be accused of anything illegal, but the way he has handled his first controversy does not bode well for the next 4 years. His carefully phrased responses and overall silence on the issue seem like he is trying to cover up something. Let's not forget that the Transition Office is not beholden to the Freedom of Information Act which would make all emails, voice mails, etc subject to the public record.

The candidate who ran on transparency sure has a disdain for the media asking him questions related to the scandal. How dare the media question the darling they helped create?

Time will tell and maybe Obama will learn from his mishandling of this scandal so when things actually get rough, he won't be the arrogant, megomaniacal untouchable lawyer he has proven to be so far.

Monday, December 22, 2008

Bin Laden has escaped capture since the Sept. 11 attacks. Cheney says capturing him is something the Bush administration "clearly would love to do" in the last few weeks in office.

Cheney says he and President George W. Bush would have preferred to have gotten bin Laden right after the attacks in 2001. But Cheney says the U.S. has made progress in undermining the al-Qaida network.

Cheney says bin Laden has been holed up in a such a way that there are questions about whether he is even running the al-Qaida operation.

Cheney spoke on "Fox News Sunday."

Cheney also defended the Bush administration's effort to combat terrorism and the resulting expansion of government to do so.

But Vice President Dick Cheney says what Abraham Lincoln did during the Civil War and what Franklin Roosevelt did during World War II went far beyond what the Bush administration has done.

Cheney says the Bush administration has exercised what he thinks is the legitimate authority of the president's constitutional powers as commander in chief to help defend the country. Cheney is defending policies on detainees, terrorist surveillance and intelligence gathering as justified in a time of war.

It's amazing to us how little respect the Liberals and the moveon.organists have for Cheney. The character assassination on both him and President Bush show nothing than more than how uneducated and blinded the Left have become.

"Mr. Warren compared same-sex couples to incest. I found that deeply offensive and unfair. If he was inviting the Rev. Warren to participate in a forum and to make a speech, that would be a good thing. But being singled out to give the prayer at the inauguration is a high honor. It has traditionally given as a mark of great respect. And, yes, I think it was wrong to single him out for this mark of respect."

Is anyone surprised? Certainly Rep. Frank is entitled to an opinion like every American, but we have already saluted Obama's commitment to his campaign rhetoric of bringing all sides together.

Certainly, as a congressman Frank should understand that concept of compromise mentality, right?

Oh that's right, he's a radical liberal! He only cares about his own agenda!

Check out Politico for more on Gay Leaders upset with Warren selection.

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Governor Paterson has his work cut out for him with respect to replacing Hillary Clinton. The top candidates are inter-woven in a web of marriage, betrayal and power sharing that would make Shakespeare proud!

Politico has a great article on New York nepotism, highlighting the family tiff between the Kennedys, the Cuomos and the Patersons.

It's no secret that New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo was once married to Kerry Kennedy, the cousin of Caroline, and sister of Robert Kennedy Jr. Their bitter divorce left the Cuomos and Kennedys at odds with each other.

Gov. Paterson has that to contend with, not to mention his father's connections to state politics.

"As we always say, politics in New York is a different ballgame," said pollster Lee Miringoff, director of the Marist Institute of Public Opinion, adding, "Illinois may be making headlines, but it's still the Second City."

Indeed politics throughout the US are mired by nepotism, pay-to-play and behind the scenes wheeling and dealing.

Still, Gov. Paterson is in a most unenviable position; he cannot please everyone and is sure to have at least one New York Power Family against him.

All Members of Congress will get pay raise in January, 2009 unless they vote to block it. Each member of Congress will see another $4,700 in his or her paycheck over the next year, an increase of 2.8 percent over their current $169,300 annual salary. (Source: Council for Citizens Against Government Waste)

This amounts to roughly $2.5 Million more tax dollars going to pay these people.

“Members of Congress don’t deserve one additional dime of taxpayer money in 2009,” said The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste President Tom Schatz. “While thousands of Americans are facing layoffs and downsizing, Congress should be mortified to accept a raise. They failed to pass most of their appropriations bills, the deficit is on pace to reach an unprecedented $1 trillion, and the national debt stands at $10 trillion. In addition, this Congress has been ethically challenged, plagued with corruption allegations, convictions, and sex scandals.”

Admittedly, $2.5 Million is nothing in our current Winter Wonderland of Waste, but in the real world, raises are based on performance and like Mr. Schatz, we don't see how the performance of Congress justifies its 2.8% pay increase.

Friday, December 19, 2008

The estimated $850 Billion package has special interest groups salivating. Bachman cites a Washington Post story, saying the this plan “would include at least $100 billion for cash-strapped state governments and more than $350 billion for investments in infrastructure, alternative energy and other priorities…”

Rep. Bachman, like many conservatives, worries where the money will go:

You’ve got to wonder if the infrastructure investments that Obama is going to include in his package might come from the list of 11,391 projects that the U.S. Conference of Mayors recently submitted to Congress. The list includes things like a $4.8 million polar bear exhibit at the Providence, RI zoo and a $1.5 million water ride in Miami, FL.

According to a recent CNN article, other abuses of taxpayer dollars found within the report include: “a proposed $20 million minor league baseball museum in Durham, North Carolina; $6.1 million for corporate jet hangars at the Fayetteville, Arkansas, airport; $20 million for renovations at the Philadelphia Zoo; and a $1.5 million program to reduce prostitution in Dayton, Ohio.”

The requests represent what these mayors and Obama perceive as stimulating the economy and growing jobs through infrastructure rebuilding and maintenance. This type of plan has been tried several times throughout American history as has never worked!

If throwing $4.5 Million to fund polar bears in Providence, RI is Obama's idea of economic recovery, then we're in more trouble than we thought!

"I am not guilty of any criminal wrongdoing," he said, adding "that I intend to stay on the job, and I will fight this thing every step of the way. I will fight. I will fight. I will fight until I take my last breath. I have done nothing wrong, and I'm not going to quit a job the people hired me to do because of false accusations and a political lynch mob."

"Let me tell you what I'm not going to do," he said. "I'm not going to do what my accusers and political enemies have been doing and that's talk about this case in 30-second soundbites on 'Meet the Press' or on the TV news. Now, I'm dying to answer these charges. I am dying to show you how innocent I am. And I want to assure everyone who's here and everyone who's listening that I intend to answer every allegation that comes my way. However, I intend to answer them in the appropriate forum in a court of law. And when I do, I am absolutely certain that I will be vindicated."

If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it onyou,If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you and make allowance fortheir doubting, too,If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, or beinglied about,Don't deal in lies, or being hated,Don't give way to hating

.He added: "Now, I know there are some powerful forces allied against me. it's kind of lonely right now. But I have on my side the most powerful ally. And it's the truth. And besides I have the personal knowledge that I have not done anything wrong."

"To the people of Illinois, I ask that they wait and be patient, sit back and take a deep breath and please reserve judgment," he said. "Afford me the same rights that you and your children have. Presumption of innocence. The right to defend yourself. The right to your day in court. The same rights that people would expect for yourselves."

President Bush said the loans "will give automakers three months to put in place plans to restructure into viable companies -- which we believe they are capable of doing." He added that "if restructuring cannot be accomplished outside of bankruptcy, the loans will provide time for companies to make the legal and financial preparations necessary for an orderly Chapter 11 process that offers a better prospect of long-term success -- and gives consumers confidence that they can continue to buy American cars."

President-Elect Obama added, "The auto companies must not squander this chance to reform bad management practices and begin the long-term restructuring that is absolutely required to save this critical industry and the millions of American jobs that depend on it."

So, Congress and the President approved $700 Billion to assist the banking and credit industries. The $17 Million for GM and Chrysler will come from that money pool.

Why can't the banks loan this money to GM and Chrysler? Maybe because professionals in the banking industry understand that they are risky companies?

Is it even possible that GM and Chrysler will be able to prove enough "viability" in the next three months?

In reality, $17 Billion is pocket change in the current Bailout Nation. Not to mention, Obama'spork barrel government "stimulus" plan that will cost well $1 Trillion!

It just sets a dangerous precedent. Who is next? How many industries are going to use the same argument? What about the states like California and New Jersey seeking Federal money?

Looks like Bush just wants a quick escape and not be remembered as the Man Who Let the Auto Industry Fail.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

CBS News reported earlier this month that the Auto Industry spent over $50 Million lobbying Congress and on donations to politicians during the first nine months of 2008. Here are some highlights:

Sen. Carl Levin, a Democrat, received $438,304

Rep. Joe Knollenberg, a Republican, received $879,327.

Rep. John Dingell, a Democrat, received nearly $1 Million!

All have enjoyed generous support from the auto industry over their careers, with GM and Ford as their two top contributors. All support a bailout.

But nobody's been a bigger advocate for Motor City interests than Dingell. And for him, the stakes aren't just political, they're personal.

"There's an actual conflict," said Ryan Alexander of the nonprofit group Taxpayers for Common Sense. "His personal financial health, you know, the wealth of his family is tied up in the car industry."

Dingell's wife Debbie once worked as a lobbyist for GM. When she married the congressman, she became a senior GM executive at an undisclosed salary. And we found the couple has extensive GM assets. Dingell's current financial disclosure filed in May lists GM stock worth up to $350,000, options worth up to $1 million more, and a GM pension fund. In 2000, among the Dingells' GM assets were stock options worth up to $5 million.

And in 1998, the congressman reported selling GM stock options worth up to $1 million dollars. Dingell wouldn't agree to an interview. Taxpayer watchdog Alexander says the Dingell's personal ties to GM are something the public should know about when the congressman casts his votes.

"They stand to benefit if the company doesn't go under, if the company prospers," she said. "And they stand to lose a lot if the company goes bankrupt."

Nobody is placing bets on whether Congress will end up giving the car companies a bailout. But if investments in Washington politicians count as leverage, then the auto industry has plenty of clout.

Dingell is the poster boy for term limits. He came to Congress in 1955, winning a special election to replace his father who had passed away. Some relevant points from his Wikipedia Bio:

Dingell has opposed raising mandatory automobile fuel efficiency standards, which he helped to write in the 1970s. Instead he has indicated that he intends to pursue a regulatory structure thattakes greenhouse gas emissions and oil consumption into account. In a July, 2007 interview with thehill.com, he said “I have made it very plain that I intend to see to it that CAFE is increased” and went on to point out that his plan would have increases tantamount to those in the Senate bill recently passed. In November 2007, working with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Dingell helped draft an energy bill that would regulate a 40% increase in fuel efficiency standards.

Now, we have already discussed that CAFE standards add an unnecessary burden to the Auto companies. So in receiving millions in his career from the companies, he has tried to appease Environmentalists, yet protect the Auto Makers.

In July 2007, Dingell indicated he planned to introduce a new a tax on carbon usage in order to curtail greenhouse gas emissions. The policy has been criticized by some, as polling numbers show voters may be unwilling to pay for the changes. A Wall Street Journal editorial claimed that vehicle emissions standards that he supports will not yield any substantial greenhouse gas emissions savings.

His conflict of interest with the auto makers is astounding:

Dingell has drawn criticism for his ties to the automotive industry. The three largest contributors to his campaign for the 2006 election cycle are political action committees, employees, or other affiliates of General Motors, Ford Motor Company, and DaimlerChrysler, since 1989, intermediaries for these corporations have contributed more than $600,000 to his campaign. Dingell also holds an unknown quantity, more than $1 million, in assets through General Motors stock options and savings-stock purchase programs; his spouse, Debbie Dingell, worked as a lobbyist for the corporation until they married, whereupon she moved to an administrative position there.At present Ms. Dingell is a senior executive at General Motors and vice chair of the General Motors Foundation. On November 11th, 2008, American columnist Thomas Friedman wrote about the the lack of innovative business culture in American auto industry singling out Representative John Dingell:"The blame for this travesty not only belongs to the auto executives, but must be shared equally with the entire Michigan delegation in the House and Senate, virtually all of whom, year after year, voted however the Detroit automakers and unions instructed them to vote. That shielded General Motors, Ford and Chrysler from environmental concerns, mileage concerns and the full impact of global competition that could have forced Detroit to adapt long ago. Indeed, if and when they do have to bury Detroit, I hope that all the current and past representatives and senators from Michigan have to serve as pallbearers. And no one has earned the “honor” of chief pallbearer more than the Michigan Representative John Dingell, the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee who is more responsible for protecting Detroit to death than any single legislator."

So its obvious why Michigan Congress Members support a bailout. Republican or Democrat, they all need to be investigated. MichiganMessenger.com reports some good insight as well:

“For the last 20 years, the Michigan delegation felt that what was good for the big three was good for Michigan,” said Brendan Bell, Washington representative for the Union of Concerned Scientists. “Instead, 20 years of inaction gave the big three the rope to hang themselves with.”

The saga highlights the perils of congressional efforts to protect regional industries. Responding to evolving consumer tastes, America’s automakers focused much of the last two decades on producing larger, less efficient vehicles, exemplified by the sports utility vehicle, or SUV. Attempts by environmentalists and some lawmakers to install higher fuel efficiency standards were thwarted along the way, with the opposition rallying behind Michigan’s powerful representatives, particularly House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell (D) and five-term Sen. Carl Levin (D). Between 1975 and 2007, federal fuel consumption standards remained unchanged.

Dan Becker, a Washington-based environmental consultant, said that “a wishful blindness” among Detroit’s congressional supporters has greatly contributed to the divide. “The auto industry has suffered from a number of members of Congress who drank Detroit’s Kool-Aid and protected the industry to death,” Becker said. “They’re now suffering because of their short-sightedness.”

**For More Information, maplight.org gives shows that Congressmen who received the most money from auto makers supported a bailout while those who received little or no donations voted no.

In the spirit of balance, we commend President-Elect Obama for choosing Rick Warren to give the invocation at next month's Inauguration Ceremonies.

Yet once again, the radical Gay Rights Movement has resorted to angry protests to show their disgust with the choice.

Warren's Evangelical views on many social issues are well-known, including his stance against same-sex marriage.

On Thursday, Obama defended his decision, saying "I would note that a couple of years ago, I was invited to Rick Warren's church to speak, despite his awareness that I held views that were entirely contrary to his when it came to gay and lesbian rights, when it came to issues like abortion."

"And that dialogue, I think, is part of what my campaign's been all about: That we're not going to agree on every single issue, but what we have to do is to be able to create an atmosphere ... where we can disagree without being disagreeable and then focus on those things that we hold in common as Americans."

Again, we applaud Obama for choosing tolerance and acceptance over hatred and anger.

(Source: ABC) Dana Perino, White House Press Secretary, said Thursday, "There's an orderly way to do bankruptcies that provides for more of a soft landing. I think that's what we would be talking about. That would be one of the options.

President Bush added, "This is a difficult time for a free-market person. Under ordinary circumstances, failed entities, failing entities should be allowed to fail."

The White House is being pulled in two directions. Speaker Pelosi urged Bush to act quickly. She said 2 million U.S. jobs are dependant on Bush giving the industry a loan.

Republican members of Congress are telling bush that "no amount" of money will save the companies, adding, "American taxpayers cannot afford to save every company facing financial peril."

We agree with the fiscal conservatives. Here's why.

BAILOUT OUT YOURSELF

Cerberus Capital Management LP, a leading private investment firm, owns 80% of Chrysler and 51% of GMAC. The company also owns bus manufacturer Blue Bird and car parts maker TA Delaware (formerly Tower Automotive). Other holdings include a 45%-stake in Japanese bank Aozora, real estate services firm LNR Property, and a 52%-stake in ACE Aviation Holdings, the parent company of Air Canada. (Source: Hoovers)

From the company's website homepage: "Cerberus believes that strong corporate governance is the cornerstone of our business. We believe competition makes the global economy more productive and more efficient, which enables companies to succeed long-term in the globally competitive marketplace. "

So why are we even debating giving AMERICAN TAX DOLLARS to bailout a company with over $100 billion in annual revenue and one which is a global company with business interests from Japan to Canada!

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Great stuff from Radio Iowa The Blog. Everything you need to know about the new Secretary of Agriculture (that's really him pictured above!) including connections to, surprisingly, Rahm Emanual and Rod Blagojevich!

Energy and Environment are the same thing. Part of Obama's economic stimulus will be to fix environmental issues. "We can create millions of jobs, starting with a 21st-century economic recovery plan that puts Americans to work building wind farms, solar panels and fuel-efficient cars." Does anybody want this stuff? Does it even work?

Cap and trade to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, regardless of its economic effect on companies.

Stephen Chu as Energy Secretary who supports research for new and environmentally friendly alternatives to fossil fuels.

Another Clintonite Carol Browner to serve as "Climate/Energy Czar"

Fox News reported that many scientists take issue with an AP report on global warming.

"Reporters, as I understand reporters, are supposed to report facts. What he's doing here is he's writing a polemic and reporting it as fact, and that's not right. It's not reporting. It's propaganda."

Michael R. Fox, a retired nuclear scientist and chemistry professor from the University of Idaho

"There's very little that's right about it. And it's really harmful to the United States because people like this Borenstein working for AP have an enormous impact on everyone, because AP sells their news service to a thousand news outlets.One guy like him can be very destructive and alarming. Yeah it's freedom of speech, but its dishonest."

James O'Brien of The University of Florida

"Global climate change is occurring in many places in the world. But everything that's attributed to global warming, almost none of it is global warming."

He calls the AP article based on "bad science". "When the Arctic Ocean ice melts, it never raises sea level because floating ice is floating ice, because it's displacing water. When the ice melts, sea level actually goes down."I call it a fourth grade science experiment. Take a glass, put some ice in it. Put water in it. Mark level where water is. Let it met. After the ice melts, the sea level didn't go up in your glass of water. It's called the Archimedes Principle."

He called sea level changes a "major scare tactic used by the global warming people."

And all of this will be supported by Liberal Congress who must appease their radical environmentalist special interest groups.

The problem is not global warming. The issue is that Obama is prepared to spend billions on an energy plan that simply will not work, not too mention based on incorrect facts.

The Al Gore Environmental Left must be stopped. There exist far greater problems. If we wish to be truly energy independent, there may be some environmental risk.

Or we can start building more nuclear facilities. But that would make too much sense and would not give the Left anything to cry about.

Bloomberg is reporting an investigation into possible pay-to-play involving New Mexico!

A federal grand jury is investigating how a company that advised Jefferson County, Alabama, on bond deals that threaten to cause the biggest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history, did similar work in New Mexico after making contributions to Governor Bill Richardson's political action committees.

Maybe Obama is right? Dealing with rogue dictators might not be the most difficult he has to overcome when he has so many rogue friends to discuss!

Speaking to ABC's "This Week," McCain was asked whether Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin could count on his support in a potential future Presidential candidacy.

"I can't say something like that. We've got some great other young governors. I think you're going to see the governors assume a greater leadership role in our Republican Party," he said. He mentioned governors Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota and Jon Huntsman of Utah.

Another reason we lost the election. We knew you were never Conservative enough, John. Also, much thanks for mentioning that the RNC should lay off attacks on Obama with respect to Blago! No, thanks, John -- we're all here to keep a close eye on good ol' Barry and his Chicago wiseguys!

Maybe McCain should just become a Democrat. Maybe we can trade McCain for Leiberman?

Republicans serve Conservatives, we Conservatives do not serve Republicans. McCain is a centrist and while that may serve him well in the Senate, he is not the kind of candidate Conservatives need to win a Presidential race.

The Chicago Sun Times is reporting that Christopher Kelly, a former campaign adviser and close confidante of Gov. Blagojevich, will plead guilty to Federal tax evasion charges in January.

For more on his relationship with the Governor, check out an article from last years Chicago Tribune.

In addition, we've also found an interview that the Daily Southtown conducted with Blago in October, 2006, the same week that Tony Rezko was indicted for taking kickbacks from firms seeking state business.

Q: Are you confident that Chris Kelly is not going to be indicted?

A: Yeah. Yes. They're two different people, by the way, and it's a different relationship. Chris and I are much closer. Chris is the head of my political campaign. That's someone I talk to a lot more frequently. I'm confident, yes.

Q: What happened five months ago that you had this final, last conversation with Tony Rezko? What was the last conversation and why was it the last one?

A: It was four or five months ago; could have been at an event somewhere that I saw him. It was fine.

Q: Were you starting to distance yourself from him at that point?

A: Not all. I think I need to explain the extent of the relationship. He's not an exclusive friend of mine. He was a supporter of mine. He doesn't have a formal position in our campaign. He never did. He made some recommendations during the transition and during the first year we were building an administration, but for the most part, that's it. I think some of the talk that he's this big adviser is frankly overblown.It's different with Chris. I'd be shocked. I'm very confident in Chris.

So, here's what we know. Both Chris Kelly and Tony Rezko raised money and were advisers to Rod Blagojevich. Tony Rezko raised money for Barack Obama. Rezko, Obama and RahmEmanual supported Blagojevich during his gubernatorial run. Emanual gave Blagojevich a list of Senate candidates to replace Obama. Emanual and Blagojevich served the same congressional district. Emanuam is Obama's Chief of Staff. Blagojevich was arrested for corruption charges.

ABC News is reporting that Ed Genson, attorney for Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, told reporters as he arrived at work Monday morning, "I think the case, the case that I've seen so far is significantly exaggerated. It's just, it's not what people think it is."

According to Barack Obama and his spokesman Dan Pfeiffer, the Transition Office will not release details of its internal review until the week of Dec. 22 at the request of prosecutors "in order not to impede their investigation of the governor."

At the risk of sounding skeptical, isn't it odd that the President-Elect would wait until Christmas to announce the details of such a high profile investigation?

Sunday, December 14, 2008

According to The Wall Street Journal, among others, the White House spent the weekend deliberating over how to provide stimulus to the beleaguered auto industry in the wake of Friday's defeat of a bill in the US Senate.

The only way such a proposal would make sense is if any company receiving government assistance would enter into bankruptcy, renegotiate union contracts and restructure entirely.

A bailout of the Auto Industry would lead to a downward spiral of Federal Tax Dollars being "loaned" to other companies and state governments.

How would they decide which entity gets which money? This would set a dangerous precedent that could threaten the very core of capitalism and the free-market system.

It seems as President Bush is intent on two things: (1) Provide enough short-term assistance to get him through the next month and pass the mess onto his successor Barack Obama and (2) Not be known as the President who let the auto companies fail!

President Bush made a surprise visit to troops in Iraq on Sunday when an angry Iraqi Journalist threw his shoes at the President.

The President was in Iraq to sign the US Iraq accord that will replace a current UN pact, and keep US Troops in the country through 2011.

It's nice to see how much the Iraqis appreciate their new found freedom of speech and freedom of press.

A little gratitude would be nice, but President Bush took it lightly during what will likely be his final visit to Iraq.

Unfortunately for this Iraqi reporter, Saddam Hussein is no longer in power. The former dictator would have surely tortured and murdered this man. Again, he should count himself lucky that President Bush and the US military have granted him freedoms he would never have under Saddam.

This is the kind of behavior one would expect from the anti-Bush leftist American media sooner than a liberated Iraqi!

Valerie Jarrett served as a board member for several organizations that provided funding and support for Chicago housing projects operated by real estate developers and Obama financial backers Rezko and Allison Davis.

Housing projects operated by Davis and Rezko have been substandard and beset with code violations.

As Chief Executive Officer of the Habitat Company Jarrett also managed a controversial housing project located in Obama's former state senate district called Grove Parc Plaza. According to the Boston Globe the housing complex was considered "uninhabitable by unfixed problems, such as collapsed roofs and fire damage...In 2006, federal inspectors graded the condition of the complex an 11 on a 100-point scale -- a score so bad the buildings now face demolition."

In June 2003, Rezko held a ritzy fundraiser for Obama at his tony Wilmette mansion. Obama later said, “Rezko was not my largest fundraiser but a significant fundraiser.” According to Reuters, Obama said Rezko raised as much as $250,000.

Rezko’s June 2008 trial on corruption strongly implicated Blagojevich. Blagojevich allegedly discussed a state job for a donor, after that donor wrote a $25,000 check for his campaign. In all, prosecutors said, Rezko squeezed various companies for some $7 million in kickbacks.

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Andy Martin in April 30, 2007: “In a large urban area such as Chicago state senate districts are not very large. They encompass several compact and contiguous neighborhoods. If you walked the district (Obama's then State Senate District) even occasionally you would know, you should know, almost every large building in the district.”

Obama, now serving as a U.S. Senator, “professed total ignorance about the slum tragedies literally on his own doorstep,” Martin wrote. “How, could a state senator in a poor neighborhood not know about eleven (count ‘em) slum buildings in his own district? … Especially when the state senator’s own law firm represented the slum landlord?”

Saturday, December 13, 2008

FOX News Chicago is reporting that President-Elect Obama's Chief of Staff Rahm Emanual had "multiple" conversations with Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and his chief of staff John Harris. The discussions included a list of "acceptable" candidates to fill Obama's vacated US Senate seat.

Harris resigned on Friday after being named in the same criminal complaint as the Governor.

"Did Rahm Emanuel who took Rod Blagojevich's seat in Congress have contact with Rod Blagojevich? Of course he did," Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell said Friday morning on MSNBC. "They may have thought he was the craziest S.O.B. in the world. But you still have to have contact with him."

Obama has denied that he had any contact with Blago and that no members of his staff were involved in deal making.

Emmanual, President-Elect Obama's political confidante and new Chief of Staff, once said never let a good crisis go to waste.

It seems that Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan and her father, Illinois State House Speaker Michael Madigan, agree with Rahm-Bo!

Today's Chicago Sun Times speculates just that:

But if Blagojevich stays put and his saga drags out, then questions inevitably will grow louder about whether delaying impeachment is a tactic by Madigan not to divert political thunder from his daughter, Attorney General Lisa Madigan.

On Friday, she took the unprecedented step of petitioning the state Supreme Court to declare Blagojevich unfit for office and remove him, under an obscure rule never used before against an Illinois governor.

"The speculation is that the speaker is sitting back on this so Lisa can take the lead and get ownership on the issue," said one House member who favors impeachment but requested anonymity.

The attorney general made clear Friday that she backs impeaching Blagojevich and noted her legal maneuver would be another front against the governor while lawmakers go about trying to impeach him.

"Attorney General Madigan's call for the governor's impeachment has been crystal clear since the charges against him were announced Tuesday. [Her] filing in the Supreme Court does not take the place of impeachment. Rather, it seeks to bring immediate relief to the people of Illinois," said Cara Smith, a spokeswoman for Lisa Madigan.

By having a prominent role in ousting Blagojevich, the attorney general and potential 2010 gubernatorial candidate further insulates herself from the same type of do-nothing charges that Blagojevich employed against his 2002 rival, then-Attorney General Jim Ryan.

Nothing like Chicago politics to make a scandal out of investigating and correcting a political scandal.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

The US Senate failed to pass the Auto Industry Bailout Bill on Thursday night. The United Auto Workers Union failed to concede to reduced wages and benefits.

What does this mean? Let the free market solution work. Capitalistic Darwinism. Survival of the fittest.

Though no one wants to see any hard working American lose his/her job, the fate of the UAW remains hazy. Hopefully, the Big 3 will be forced to enter into bankruptcy which will enable them to renegotiate their debts, dissolve the union and rise above the ashes as stronger, more economically viable companies.

The American Automobile is not dead. The bailout is. It's a necessary evil.

God Bless America. God Bless the Conservatives who stood their ground in the Senate.

RELATED: Check out Slate.com article on Union Work Rules. Highlights another reason for inefficiency at Big 3.

In his book, "Critical: What We Can Do About the Health-Care Crisis", Daschle writes "Most of the world’s highest-ranking health-care systems employ some kind of 'single-payer' strategy - that is, the government, directly or through insurers, is responsible for paying doctors, hospitals, and other health-care providers."

Is this socialized medicine that has given mixed results to Canada and many European countries?

GM and Chrysler must reduce their debt by two-thirds by March 15, or file for bankruptcy. This would allow them to renegotiate their debt with lenders and bondholders.

The United Auto Workers union would have to accept significant equity in the companies to help offset future retiree health care payments, instead of cash or other assets the companies were to contribute to union-controlled trust funds that will pay those claims in the future.

The union would have to accept pay cuts for GM and Chrysler workers to levels paid at the U.S. plants of overseas automakers.

This is what we've argued all along. Why does it cost The Big 3 upwards of 60% in labor to produce a car? The Union contracts MUST be renegotiated through bankruptcy. Tax dollars should not be used as an appeasement to the unions -- or $15 Billion in votes for the Democrats.